Illuminated aerial top



United States Patent 3,162,979 ELUMMATED AERIAL T61? Mike M. Garoogian, 146 S. Woodrow, Fresno, Qallt. Filed Aug. 13, E62, Sea. No. 216,336 3 Claims. (1. Lid-28) The present invention relates to an illuminated spinning toy or spinning top and more particularly to such a Yo-yo having an electrical system responsive to forces generated by operation of the Yo-yo automatically to energize such electrical system.

Illuminated Yo-yos have previously been constructed employing dry cells as a source of power. Conventionally, an external switch is provided to actuate the electrical system of the Yo-yo" or the Yo-yo is dismantled and the dry cell inserted or removed to control the illumination thereof. The external switch is unsightly, as it detracts from the usually smooth ornamental external appearance of the Yo-yo and interferes with its aerodynamic properties. Also, dismantling of the Yo-yo is an inconvenience and such control is subject to the hazard that the dry cell may inadvertently remain engaged and drained of power during periods of non-use.

Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an illuminated spinning toy having an improved electrical system for energizing illuminating means thereof.

Another object is to provide an illuminated Yo-yo with such an electrical system which is only operable during operation of the Yo-yo.

Another object is to provide an illuminated Yo-yo having an electrical system which is responsive to forces generated by the Yo-yo during operation to energize such system.

Another object is to provide an illuminated Yo-yo with an electrical system which requires no external actuating mechanism.

Another object is to provide an illuminated Yo-yo which has an electrical system responsive to both acceleration and centrifugal forces to energize the system.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent upon reference to the following description in the specification.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an end elevation of a Yo-yo embodying the principles of the present invention.

PEG. 2 is a somewhat enlarged vertical section through the Yo-yo taken on line 22 of FIG. 1 showing the electrical system incorporated therein.

FIG. 3 is a partial horizontal section taken on a plane represented by the line 33 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken in a plane represented by the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary vertical section taken in a plane represented by the line 55 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary section showing a modified form of the switching portion of the electrical system of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section showing another form of the switching portion of the electrical system ofthe present invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the Yo-yo of the present invention has a circular frame 10 which includes a pair of discs 11 of dielectric material having screw-threaded peripheral portions 12; The discs are interconnected at the r axial centers in axially spaced substantially parallel relation by an integral axle 14. It is apparent that the frame could be constructed of separable discs joined by a removable axle as may be dictated by manufacturing procedures. The discs define a radial passage therebetween through which is extended a stringlike tension member 16 which is looped about the axle.

3,lb2,9? Patented Dec. 29, 1954 stantially symmetrical overlying relation to the axial center of the discs. The receptacle includes a pair of substantially upright, inwardly, arcuately curved flexible tabs 2% dependably to constrain a pen-light battery 21 with in the receptacle. The battery has opposite ends respectively providing a positive pole 22 and a negative pole 23. The battery is axially constrained by a spring clip 24 on the disc contacting the negative pole 23. The ends of the battery are contiguous with an axially outwardly exended rim portion 25 having an inner surface 26 inwardly concentrically related to the periphery 12 of the disc. An internally threaded socket 27 is formed in the discs by a pair of clips 28 integral with the discs and positioned adjacent to the positive pole end of the battery receptacle to receive a conventional incandescent pendight bulb 2' A strip or tape 30 of current conducting material is applied to the inner surface 26 of the rim portion 25 of the discs ll adjacent to the socket 27 and the positive pole end of the battery 22 to supply current therefrom to a positive spring post 31 of the bulb 27. The strip is indicated by broken lines so as more readily to be contrasted against the solid line portions of the discs. A strip 32 of current conducting material also shown in broken lines is disposed adjacent to the negative pole or ground side of the battery 22 for completing the circuit to a ground post 33 on the bulb socket 27 through a switch mechanism, generally indicated at 35, provided in the current conducting line. The switch 35 includes a U-shaped contact member 3'7 of current conducting material which has a first contact side 33 and a second contact side 39 connected by the current strip 32 to the bulb socket 27.

The above described electrical circuit may also be formed by printing, formed by electrical wires and soldered connections, or by any other means desired.

An elongated resiliently flexible switch member 40 is rigidly mounted at its inner end on the disc at a connecting point 41 in the battery side of the current conducting strip 32. The switch member is outwardly extended from its connection 41 on the disc in a direction acutely angularly related to a radial plane from the center of the disc and terminates in an enlarged substantially spherical head portion 42. In this, the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the head portion of the switch member 40 is responsive to both acceleration and centrifugal forces to complete the circuit to the bulb 26 upon engagement of the head portion 42 of the switch member with either side of the U-shaped contact 37.

As shown in FIG. 6, a second embodiment of the switch portion 35 of the present invention is provided wherein the switch member ll is outwardly substantially radially extended in a plane from the center of the disc. The U- shaped contact 37 is placed on the disc so that its contact sides 33 and 39 are arranged to be engaged by circumferential swinging of the head portion 42 of the switch member relative to the disc. This embodiment is intended to be solely responsive to acceleration forces generated during operation of the Yo-yo.

A third embodiment of the switch 35 is shown in FIG. 7 of the drawing and is intended to be solely responsive to centrifugal forces generated by the Yo-yo during operation. In this instance, the switch member 40 is disposed on the disc so that the head portion 42 thereof swings in a substantially radial plane outwardly of the center of the disc. It is apparent that the contact member 37 has but a single side in this arrangement and is disposed a predetermined distance outwardly of the at rest position of the head portion of the switch.

Operation The operation of the described embodiments of the subject invention is believed to be readily apparent and is briefly summarized at this point. Rotation of the Yoyo is conventionally achieved by winding and unwinding the tension member 16 about the axle 14. As the Yo-yo is thrown downwardly from the operators hand, rotation is imparted thereto to unwind the tension member from the axle. When the Yo-yo reaches the lower extent of the tension member, the momentum of rotation causes the Yo-yo to rewind and return upwardly to the operators hand. During initial downward movement of the Yo-yo, relatively high acceleration forces tend to swing the head portion 42 of the switch member 46 into engagement with the second contact side 39 of the contact 37 to complete the electrical circuit to light the bulb 29. As acceleration forces decrease and the head portion 42 approaches the same speed as the rotation of the Yo-yo, the head portion is disengaged, interrupting the flow of current to the bulb 29. At the same time, the centrifugal forces acting on the head portion 42 tend to throw it radially outwardly of the axis of rotation of the .Yo-yo.

With the inner end of the switch member 4% constrained, as at 41, such radial outward movement is restricted so that the head portion 42 is motivated in a substantially circumferential direction to engage the first contact side 38 of the contact 37 again completing the circuit to provide a flow of current to the bulb 29. During actuation of the bulb, the translucent material of the body member 18 is caused to glow preferably with a colored light corresponding to the color of the material employed. The head portion 42 of the switch member 49 continues such engagement with the contact member 37 as long as the Yo-yo is rotated.

The Yo-yo of the present invention. may also be employed as an educational device to teach the principles of the forces involved during the operation thereof. Upon initial operation, the bulb 29 is lighted in response to acceleration forces which, when relieved, cause the bulb to be extinguished and subsequently to be re-energized by centrifugal forces acting on the switch member 453-.

The separate forms shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 of the present invention operate identically to the corresponding portions of the first form of the-invention and are only briefly described.

As described, the embodiment shown in FIG. 6 is solely responsible to acceleration forces. When the Yo-yo is initially thrown downwardly from the operators hand, the head portion 42 of the switch member 4% swings in a circumferential direction opposite to the direction of acceleration to make contact with one side of the U-shaped contact 37 to actuate the bulb 29. As soon as the speed of the Yo-yo and the head portion 42 of the switch are equalized, centrifugal force maintains the switch member 40 in a substantially straight radial plane from the axle 14 interrupting such contact and extinguishing the bulb. The third embodiment, shown in FIG. 7, is solely responsive to centrifugal force and is not operative to light the bulb 29 until the Yo-yo reaches a predeter operation can be obtained by using a disc having 7 the switch disposed as in FIG. 6 in one body member and a disc having the'switch disposed as in FIG. 7 in the opposite member.

From the foregoing, it is readily apparent that theilluminated Yo-yo of the present invention has been provided with an improved electrical circuit which is responsive to both acceleration and centrifugal forces to energize the system for illuminating the Yo-yo. Such system assures that the Yo-yo is only illuminated during operation and requires no external system actuating mechanism.

Although the invention has been herein shown and described in what is conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is recognized that departures may be made therefrom within the scope'of the invention, which is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the claims so as to embrace any and all equivalent devices and apparatus.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a Yo-yo having a pair of hollow body members mounted in axiallyspaced relation on an axle, and a string windable about the axle for controlled throwing of the Yo-yo and rotation of the body members incident to Winding and unwinding of said string on the axle, an electrical system borne by each of said body members including a current source providing contact poles of opposite polarity, a light radiating member providing contact posts of opposite polarity, means connecting the contact'poles of said current source with the similar polarity contact posts of the light radiating member, and resiliently flexible means in one of said connecting means disposed ec'centrically of said axle and in acute angular relation to a radial plane passing therethrough from the axle interrupting current flow when the body members are at rest and upon being thrown said flexible means being responsive to acceleration and centrifugal forces successively to connect said light radiating member to said current source to illuminate the radiating member.

2. In a Yo-yo having a pair of hollow body members of translucent material, means supporting said body members in axially spaced relation about a common axis, an elongated tension member wound about said support means for controlled throwing of the Yo-yo and rotation of the body members about said axis incident to winding and unwinding of said tension member thereon, an electrical system borne by said support means within each of the body members including a current source having contact poles of opposite polarity, a light radiat- "iug member providing contact posts of opposite polarity,

mined rotational speed to swing the head portion 42 of the switch 40 radially outwardly against the contact member 37.

It is readily apparent that the various switch mountings provided by the present invention could be employed in various combinations to suit the individuals desire for using the Yo-yo as an amusement device or as an educational device. Both of the discs 11 can employ the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 or they can be provided with a combination of the modified embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 to indicate precisely the moment of transition between actuation of the bulb by acceleration force, and actuation of the bulb by centrifugal force. The latter current conducting members extended between said contact poles of the current source and similar polarity contact posts of the light radiating member, a substantially U-shapd contact having opposite sides in one of said current conducting members to interrupt current flow when said body members are at rest, and an elongated resiliently flexible switch having an inner end mounted on the body support means adjacent to said axis of rotation and outwardly extended therefrom in acute angular relation to a a radial plane passing through the switch from said axis and terminating in an outer head portion within the body member, said outer head portion being responsive to an acceleration force when the Yo-yo is initially thrown to flex said switch to engage the head portion with one side' of the U-shaped contact member connecting said light radiating member with the current source to illuminate the radiating member, and said head portion of the switch being responsive to centrifugal force during rotation of the body members to engage the opposite side of said U-shaped contact member also to connect said light radiating member to the current source.

3. In a Yo-yo having a pair of hollow circular body members of translucent material having outer peripheries,

means supporting said body members in axially spaced relation about a common axis, an elongated tension member wound about said support means for controlled throwing of the Yo-yo and rotation of the body members about said axis incident to winding and unwinding of said tension member thereon, an electrical system borne by said support means within each of the body members including a current source having contact poles of opposite polarity, a light radiating member providing a pair of contact posts, current conducting members extended between each of said contact poles of the current source and a respective one of said contact posts of the light radiating member, a substantially U-shaped contact having opposite sides in one of said current conducting members to interrupt current flow when said body members are at 1 rest, and an elongated resiliently flexible switch having an inner end mounted on the body support means adjacent to said axis of rotation and being outwardly extended therefrom in acute angular relation to a radial plane from said axis and terminating in an outer head portion, said flexible snu'tch being disposed within the body member entirely between the adjacent periphery of the body memher and said axis thereof, said outer head portion being responsive to an acceleration force when the Yo-yo is initially thrown to flex said switch to engage the head portion with one side of the U-shaped contact member connecting said light radiating member with the current source to illuminate the radiating member, and said head portion of the switch being responsive to centrifugal force during rotation of the body members to engage the opposite side of said U shaped contact member also to connect said light radiating member to the current source.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,623,327 12/52 Testino 46228 2,849,819 9/58 Murphy et al. 46230 FOREIGN PATENTS 703,781 2/54 Great Britain.

20 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner. 

1. IN A "YO-YO" HAVING A PAIR OF HOLLOW BODY MEMBERS MOUNTED IN AXIALLY SPACED RELATION ON AN AXLE, AND A STRING WINDABLE ABOUT THE AXLE FOR CONTROLLED THROWING OF THE "YO-YO" AND ROTATION OF THE BODY MEMBERS INCIDENT TO WINDING AND UNWINDING OF SAID STRING ON THE AXLE, AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BORNE BY EACH OF SAID BODY MEMBERS INCLUDING A CURRENT SOURCE PROVIDING CONTACT POLES OF OPPOSITE POLARITY, A LIGHT RADIATING MEMBER PROVIDING CONTACT POSTS OF OPPOSITE POLARITY, MEANS CONNECTING THE CONTACT POLES OF SAID CURRENT SOURCE WITH THE SIMILAR POLARITY 